BARKCODE® 2D Code Pet ID Tags will be featured at the Red Cross Los Angeles’ month-long interactive earthquake exhibit in Santa Monica’s Good Works Space

Santa Monica, CA (PRWEB) February 24, 2011

The founders of BARKCODE®, the only Scan Code pet-rescue tag, are proud to be part of the Los Angeles Red Cross’ exhibit “YOU Are the Epicenter of Change: PREPARE!”. This month-long exhibit will be focusing on how preparedness for earthquakes and other natural disasters begins with the individual, who then creates the change needed to help family, friends, businesses, and their pets.

The exhibit will be housed at the Good Works Space at the Fred Segal store in Santa Monica, and kicks off on Thursday, March 3rd and will be on display until March 31st. On opening night, BARKCODE® will have their pet ID tags for sale. All BARKCODE® tags sold in March will have a portion of their proceeds donated to the Red Cross.

BARKCODE® was started in May of 2008, after founders Laura B. Erickson and Kimberly G. Capria realized the need for a better pet identification system. Over the span of about 12 months, Erickson and Capria had rescued dogs in their area and tried to return them, only to find that the information on the dogs’ tags was inaccurate. As dog owners and lovers, they wanted to make sure that their dogs were returned to them as quickly as possible in the event they were lost, and avoided spending any time in an animal shelter.

Erickson and Capria turned to EZcode, a two-dimensional code that can be scanned easily by a smart phone to provide all of the pet’s information in seconds. All tags also feature a unique website address, or URL, that provides a direct link to the pet’s BARKCODE® personal profile, so those without smart phones can access the pet’s vital information. With BARKCODE®, there is no third party to contact nor is it necessary to take the pet to a veterinarian or animal shelter to read a microchip.

“Choosing to use a 2D code for our pet ID tags was the best decision we made,” says Erickson. “A person finding a lost pet with a BARKCODE® tag only has to scan the code to immediately see the pet’s personal profile, with multiple contact numbers, medical information, and more.”

BARKCODE® tags come in four sizes to fit all pets: large, medium, small and the Itty Bitty Pocket Tag for miniature dogs and all cats. BARKCODE® tags can be ordered easily online at the company website: http://www.BARKCODE.com, or stop by and buy one at the Red Cross exhibit opening night on March 3rd at the Good Works Space at Zero Minus Plus, 500 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90401. The event starts at 6:00PM and visitors will enjoy refreshments, interactive giveaways and speakers on earthquake preparedness.

What do Sex and the City star Kristin Davis, Betty White and BARKCODE® have in common?

All three are passionate about pets and are just a few of the star-studded guests expected to turn out to this year’s 25th Anniversary Genesis Awards on Saturday, March 19th, 2011 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza, Los Angeles, California.

“The pet euthanasia statistics are just unacceptable and we wanted to truly come up with a pet recovery system that could absolutely make a difference.“

Venice, CA (PRWEB) March 17, 2011

“We are very excited to be part of this year’s silver anniversary of The Genesis Awards,” says BARKCODE® co-founder Laura Erickson. BARKCODE’s 2D Code Pet ID Tag allows anyone with a cell phone to be able to retrieve multiple contact information in the event that a pet is lost or injured. Now even if the owner cannot be reached, the finder can simply scan the lost pet on the spot to access multiple back up contacts, eliminating the need to take the pet to an overcrowded shelter.

Despite the advent of the microchip, the number of lost pets entering shelters has been increasing to the extent that 2 out of 3 pets that enter a shelter never make it out. “The pet euthanasia statistics are just unacceptable and we wanted to truly come up with a pet recovery system that could absolutely make a difference. “Marrying the latest mobile phone technology with BARKCODE’s patent pending 2D Code Pet ID tag was a natural. And the excitement and support from our customers, animal rescues, vets and even the Red Cross keeps us motivated to work 7 days a week,” states Erickson.

With nearly 300-million Americans carrying a cell phone with them every day, utilizing mobile phone technology makes BARKCODE’s 2D Code Pet ID tag the most simple, direct and universal method to reunite a lost pet. A person finding a lost pet with a BARKCODE® tag only has to scan the code to immediately see the pet’s personal profile, accessing multiple contact numbers, medical information, reward, microchip information and more. Each BARKCODE® PET ID Tag also has the pet’s unique url address printed on the tag that will take the finder to the same profile page to help that pet home.

“We are committed to reuniting pets with their families and are thrilled to be donating 25 BARKCODE® Pet ID Tags along with Lifetime memberships during the Genesis Awards Silent Auction to commemorate this year’s 25th Anniversary of the Genesis Awards. We believe that if a pet is found wearing a BARKCODE® Pet ID Tag, there is no reason that pet should ever be taken to a shelter for identification,” says Erickson.

February 18, 2011 Contact: Hilary AndersonOffice: (310) 445-2676E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Prepare! With the American Red Cross Exhibit at the Good Works Space during the Month of March LOS ANGELES, February, 18, 2011 —Promoting National Red Cross month, the Los Angeles Region will have on display an interactive exhibit called “PREPARE! You Are the Epicenter of Change”. The exhibit focuses on preparedness that begins with the individual, who then creates the change needed to help others — including family members, friends, businesses and even pets. Southern California residents are no strangers to the constant threat of disaster. The Los Angeles region represents over 25% of the national risk for earthquakes, yet over 60% of people have not taken any preparedness steps. With the help of the Good Works Space, “a storefront devoted to three things we could all use a little more of these days, inspiration, self-expression and contemplation,” says Darrylynn Kaun, store owner, “the idea is that people who view the exhibit will leave more disaster ready then when they arrived.” “Preparedness is about taking the necessary action to protect your family and community as best you can in the event of a disaster, knowing and practicing a disaster plan, getting a kit and being informed are the simplest steps you can take and if you visit our exhibit we’ll help you do it,” said Hilary Anderson, preparedness communicator with the Red Cross Los Angeles Region. Partnering with BARKCODE, the exhibit will focus on utilizing SCANLIFE technology which uses a 2-Dimensional Code that directs exhibit goers to a specific web page providing "real time" emergency information. Throughout the exhibit 2-D codes will link visitors to different preparedness information such as, how to make a disaster kit, where to register for CPR and First Aid courses and instructional PSAs from the Red Cross and its partners.

The Good Works Space is a rotating monthly exhibit within Zero Minus Plus, a store in Fred Segal Santa Monica. The Space presents ideas, interaction and inspiration by hosting worthy causes, fundraisers and special events throughout the year. Past organizations sponsored have included: GO Campaign, Make a Ripple, Green My Parents and Look Up, Stop Texting. An opening event is open to the public on March 3rd from 6p.m. to 9p.m. The exhibit will be ongoing March 3-31, Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

About the American Red Cross:The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

BARKCODE® 2D Code Pet ID Tags will be featured at the Red Cross Los Angeles’ month-long interactive earthquake exhibit in Santa Monica’s Good Works Space

Santa Monica, CA (PRWEB) February 24, 2011

The founders of BARKCODE®, the only Scan Code pet-rescue tag, are proud to be part of the Los Angeles Red Cross’ exhibit “YOU Are the Epicenter of Change: PREPARE!”. This month-long exhibit will be focusing on how preparedness for earthquakes and other natural disasters begins with the individual, who then creates the change needed to help family, friends, businesses, and their pets.